From Taking Stock

Stay for free

Marriott hotels are offering Visa card holders a free night for every other stay.

Basically, stay in any of 3,200 Marriott hotels twice between now and Jan. 15, pay with your Visa card, and you will have earned a free night's stay. You can earn up to two free nights during the promotion.

You must register at http:// bit .ly/ takingstock -hotels to participate in the program.

And, if you are looking for hotel deals like this one, remember that Choice hotels also are running a similar stay twice and get a free night deal. See details at http:// bit .ly/ takingstock -choice . That one runs through Nov. 3.

Now at Crabtree Valley Mall: Megalodon

Shoppers who visit Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall go there expecting to see high fashion, the latest gadgets and other fun things to buy. They probably don't expect to see a prehistoric shark jaw.

But, starting this weekend, visitors to the mall will be able to view a 6-foot-tall megalodon shark jaw on loan from the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

The replicated jaw will be on display in the H&M wing of the mall through May. The original teeth were found in the coastal town of Aurora. The fish from which the jaw came is estimated to have been 50 to 60 feet long. While most megalodon models use the same mold to create the four separate rows of teeth, this jaw was made from a mold of four complete rows of individual teeth.

After its stay at the mall, the jaw will return to the aquarium, which is preparing an exhibit that will open in June.

Redbox says, 'Thanks'

Movie kiosk company Redbox is celebrating its billionth movie rented with a big "thank you" promotion. Through Sept. 30, enter the code from your Redbox rental on the website redbox .com/ thanks to receive a free one-night rental code. In addition, you will be entered to win other prizes.

Redbox has about 130 kiosks in the Triangle that have rented more than 2 million DVD and Blu-Ray discs. The most popular movie in our area: "The Proposal."

Visit the spa for half off

Here's an interesting offer that landed in my inbox this week: The Blue Water Spa in Raleigh is offering a 50 percent discount for same-day appointments on services including facials, microdermabrasions, massages, laser hair removal, laser skin tightening and laser vein removal.

Call the spa after 2 p.m. on the day before you want to come in or on the day of, make an appointment for the same day, and get your service at 50 percent off.

That's a pretty slick deal, and a nice deal for the spa, too, which will fill up empty appointment slots. The offer will run through Oct. 31.